Game board and playing pieces therefor



Dec. 14, 1948. A. H, WH EL R 2,456,098

v GAME BOARD AND PLAYING PIECES THEREFOR Filed Nov. so, 1946 ,11 9 9 a Hangs-9v z I J ff f fi 5 ,4 ASSEMBLY LINE.

IN VEN TOR.

Patented Dec. 14, 1948 t ssues GAME BOARD AND PLAYING PIECES THEREFOR Albert II. Wheeler, Worcester, Mass.

Application November 30, 1946, Serial No. 713,356

This invention relates to a game to be played by moving differentiated pieces over a game-board which is subdivided to provide playing spaces.

It is the general object of my inventon to provide a game of this type in which each set of differentiated pieces, if cumulatively assembled in a predetermined order, will then constitute a complete production unit, such as an automobile, an airplane, or a speedboat.

A further object is to provide a game-board having regular playing spaces and also having additional spaces in which the playing pieces may be stored and in which cumulative assembly of the pieces in a predetermined order may be accomplished.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. l is a plan view of my improved gameboard with the playing pieces in starting position thereon; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the production unit achieved by cumulative assembly of the differentiated playing pieces in predetermined order.

Referring to Fig. 1, my improved game-board comprises a playing field F having longitudinal and transverse rows of playing spaces I0, arranged similarly to a checkerboard but shown in the drawing as comprising six longitudinal rows and eight transverse rows. Each longitudinal row thus has eight playing spaces and each horizontal row has six spaces, so that the playing field comprises forty-eight regular playing spaces. Any reasonable size of field may be used, however, and the number of playing spaces may be varied either longitudinally or transversely as desired.

At the upper and lower edges of the playing field F, additional rows II, I2, I3 and I4 of auxiliary spaces are shown. The spaces in the inner additional rows I2 and I3 are designed to receive the playing pieces of the two opponents before the start of the game. These spaces may be designated with the distinguishing numbers of the pieces as indicated.

Each set of playing pieces has a distinctive color. The playing pieces of each set should differ from each other in appearance, and are herein shown as comprising the chassis, engine, rear end, body and two sets of wheels of an automobile, which parts are numbered from 1 to 6 2 Claims. (Cl. 273131) 2 inclusive. When cumulatively assembled, form a complete production unit.

The outer additional rows II and M of auxiliary spaces constitute Assembly lines and are used in assembling the production units, as will be hereinafter explained.

The rules for moving the pieces may be Widely varied, but ordinarily each piece may move one space forward or rearward or one space tothe right or to the left. Each piece may also jump an adjacent piece, provided it can land in a vacant playing space Ill. If the piece which is jumped belongs to an opponent, said piece is returned to the opponents starting line.

When. any playing piece has completed its progress across the playing field to the last transverse roW of regular playing spaces, it may then be removed and placed on the auxiliary space in the adjacent additional inner row I2 or I3 which is numbered to receive that particular piece.

After the chassis (part No. 1) has thus reached additional inner row I3, for illustration, it will be placed in the No. 1 space in the Assembly line outer row I 4. As soon as the engine (part No. 2) reaches the No. 2 space in row I3, the chassis may be moved to space No. 2 in row I I and the engine may be placed thereon. The chassis and engine may then be moved to space No. 3 in the Assembly line to receive the rear end (part No. 3) as soon as that part is available, after which the body (part No. 4) and wheels (parts Nos. 5 and 6) are added by successive assembly moves.

As soon as a production unit is completely assembled, it may be rolled off at the end of the Assembly line (row II or I4), thus winning the game if the move is completed ahead of corresponding assembly by the opposing player.

It will be understood that the rules of the game may be substantially varied, providing the feature of cumulative assembly of differentiated parts in a predetermined order to complete a production unit is retained. The game may also be adapted to be played by four players, playing either individually or as partners, by the addition of rows of auxiliary spaces at the right and left of the playing field F.

It will also be understood that the production unit may represent any desired object, provided it contains the requisite number of diiierentiated parts and can be cumulatively assembled in a predetermined order.

The inner additional rows I2 and It may be omitted, if desired, in which case the end rows they of spaces It] may be used for starting and final positions.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not Wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A game comprising a game-board having a playing field subdivided in longitudinal and transverse rows of playing spaces and having an ad ditional row of auxiliary spaces equal in number to the longitudinal rows and extending transversely across each end of said playing field, in combination with two playing sets each comprising a plurality of differentiated playing pieces equal in number to the number of longitudinal rows and to the number of spaces in each additional row and constituting a single production unit when assembled, the auxiliary spaces in each additional row bearing consecutive numbers from one end of the row to the other, and the separate pieces in the associated set of playing pieces bearing the same consecutive numbers and indicating the order in which the pieces should be assembled to: form a production unit.

2. A game comprising a game-board having a playing field subdivided in longitudinal and transverse rows of playing spaces and having an additional row of auxiliary spaces equal in numher to the longitudinal rows and extending transversely across each end of said playing field, in

ALBERT H. 'WHEELER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fiie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,268,659 Wright June l, 1918 1,421,570 Rod July 4, 1922 1,430,557 Jevvis Oct. 3, 1922 1,474,504 ,Allen Nov. 20, 1922 1,628,412 Lesavoy May 2'7, 192'? 1,660,119 Decker Feb. 21, 1928 1,772,583 Barrett Aug, 12, 1936 2,133,515 Horton Oct. 18, 1938 

